was a massive gamble. Jon Landau ensured that it paid off. James Cameron is universally known as the King of the Blockbuster, one of a chosen few who’s beaten his own box office record twice over — but he doesn’t share that distinction alone.
Since 1995, Cameron’s passions have been matched only by his producing partner, Jon Landau. Together the pair brought , , , and to life; throughout the years Landau has been regarded as Cameron’s secret weapon. “If one of Cameron’s superpowers is the depth of his focus, that focus is partly made possible because Landau is somewhere nearby,” wrote in 2022.
Added Cameron: “I don’t want to say nice things in front of him — it’ll go to his head — but I feel like there’s no problem we can’t solve.” On July 5, after a battle with cancer. His loss is felt throughout the film industry, but it’s a particular blow for Cameron’s production company and its collaborators.
Landau was known best for his work alongside Cameron, though his efforts behind the scenes have undoubtedly flown under the radar. It’s much easier to celebrate more tangible achievements: a compelling story, distinctive direction, or breathtaking visual effects (often created with ). It’s usually Cameron who gets the praise in that regard — and it’s praise he definitely deserves, especially where the Avatar franchise is concerned.
But the Avatar films wouldn’t be what they are without Landau, who worked tirelessly to bring Cameron’s v.
